Don't compare me with Kallis: Watson

SOUTH AFRICAN Jacques Kallis is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders ever to have played the game. He has the statistics to support it.

Kallis, who will turn 37 a week after the end of the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, has scored 43 Test hundreds, as well as 17 more in limited-overs games. He has amassed more than 24,000 international runs.

You can also add into the equation the more than 500 international wickets he has taken, not to mention more than 300 catches.

Despite his age, Kallis intends to carry on playing until the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. But there is an heir apparent waiting to fill his big boots as the leading all-rounder in the world.

Shane Watson has enhanced his case to be the best in the business seemingly with every game he has played in Sri Lanka to date.

He won a fourth successive man-of-the-match award, ironically against Kallis and his teammates, at Premadasa Stadium on Sunday night.

Australia's vice-captain made 70 from 47 balls to become the highest scorer in the tournament in the eight-wicket triumph.

He has now scored 234 runs in four matches at an average of 78 and a strike rate of 164. He has also smashed most sixes in the tournament, a whopping 15.

Watson's 2-29 against South Africa also made him the leading wicket-taker with 10 at 11.8.

But Watson, who will play for the Brisbane Heat in the BBL later this year, refuses to talk up any comparisons with Kallis - he says he is embarrassed by them.

He is one of those who believe Kallis is one of the greatest.

"The things that he has been able to achieve in his career are absolutely mind-blowing, really, in all forms of the game," Watson, who has scored 2328 runs at 38 in 35 Tests with 59 wickets at 29, said. "Things are just falling my way at the moment, I suppose."

Depite the loss, South Africa can still make the semi-finals after India thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets yesterday.

Should South Africa beat India and Australia beat Pakistan today, South Africa, India and Pakistan will have one win each leaving run rate to decide the second qualifier from the group.

Even if Pakistan beats Australia, Australia's run rate is so superior it will go through to the semi-finals regardless.